Title

Author

Date of Submission

Spring 2014

Academic Programs and Concentrations

Psychology

Project Advisor 1

Sarah Dunphy-Lelii

Abstract/Artist's Statement

This research proposes to examine alcohol use as self-medication for PTSD in a sample of 200 women with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD) resulting from sexual assault trauma, and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Firstly, each participant will be categorized into one of four clusters based on the research of Allen, Huntoon & Evans (1999) according to each participant’s individual predominating symptomatology and negative affect. Nine instruments will be employed to gather information about drinking behaviors and other behaviors which accompany drinking. Clusters will then be examined on these behaviors. The research predicts that the more impaired clusters will drink with more frequency and in larger quantities. It is hypothesized that the Alienated and Withdrawn clusters will be more likely to drink alone and prefer drinking alone, in comparison to the Aggressive and Suffering clusters. The Alienated and Withdrawn clusters are expected to report higher levels of introversion accompanying drinking, whereas the Aggressive and Suffering clusters are expected to report higher levels of extraversion. It is hypothesized that the Aggressive cluster will be more likely than the other three clusters to experience bad (angry, irritable and/or volatile mood) when drinking and to behave aggressively. Lastly, it is expected that the Alienated and Withdrawn clusters will be more likely to self-injure than the Aggressive and Suffering clusters.